DIY Cable Gallery!! - Page 188 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

The Monkey · 12-05-2006, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by hummer26

So I have two questions:1. Where do you guys get your components from(cable, wire, cover, plug's ect.) im new to this site and to the whole cable thing, and id like to start making my own and I dont know where to start equipment wise.

Hello! Welcome to Headfi and sorry about your wallet. Here's a good starting point for your cable-making adventures.

question 2. what is the adv. if any is it to have headphones hooked up through the connection jack at the bottom of an iPod vs the 1/8" jack at the top????

The advantage is that you bypass the headphone out amplifier of the iPod, which is mediocre at best. The line out at the bottom of the player gives a nice, clean signal. Be careful, though, because the signal comes out of the line out at full volume, so you will need to feed it through an amp with a volume control.

Oh also where is the best place to learn how to make your own headphone mini amp (like the ones in the mint cans) thanks all

-Steve.

The Bible is here: http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio

Also, take some time to wander around and search this board. There are lots of very informative posts for those new to headfi DIY. And feel free to ask questions. There are lots of very smart, very helpful folks on this board.

SoundGoon · 12-05-2006, 04:00 PM

Hey Steve, welcome to head-fi. Hope you have lots of spare change

In terms of places to get supplies, I use redco.com and markertek.com almost exclusively. For tech flex and such I go to wirecare.com, but I know that there are other places to get that stuff. I havn't gotten tech flex or heatshrink in a while, so I odn't know if there is a better place to get the stuff at in terms of price. This should give you a good starting point though; hope this helps. Enjoy and best of luck

Iceroid · 12-05-2006, 04:06 PM

WOW... these LOK connectors *look* easier to use than they really are...

Heres my second DIY cable, a 2 foot RCA to RCA.

4x 26 AWG Silver Plated Copper
Carbon Techflex
5/16" vinyl flexible tubing (underneath the techflex)
Homegrown Audio Silver Solder

hummer26 · 12-05-2006, 09:37 PM

So I have a question, I see a lot of mini to mini, and RCA cables and maybe a ipod connector or two. But nothing like S-vid., Component, Optical, DVI/HDMI. Why is this? Are they too technichal/too expensive to DIY?!?!

Also thank's for the link's so far, PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING

-Steve

The Monkey · 12-05-2006, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by hummer26

So I have a question, I see a lot of mini to mini, and RCA cables and maybe a ipod connector or two. But nothing like S-vid., Component, Optical, DVI/HDMI. Why is this? Are they too technichal/too expensive to DIY?!?! Also thank's for the link's so far, PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING

-Steve

Steve, I suggest that you post your questions in the how to make an interconnect thread, as this thread should be limited to pics of cables when possible.

TheRH · 12-05-2006, 09:50 PM

That is easy to answer.

Mini to Mini- Easy to make

RCA-RCA -East to make

S Video- Hard to make, reason is there are four conductors of a very small gauge and the pins are very close and can easily short if not done just right.

Component- Is a little more difficult than a RCA to RCA, and uses a coaxial cable. It is a little harder to make, but not by much. The main reason is it takes more patience if u want to use true 75 Ohm connectors (other than Bullet Plugs. in addition to use coaxial cable with a traditional true 75 ohm termination required special tools which can be quite expensive

Optical is not something you can make because of the fiber used, unless you have special tools, which are very pricey, and are just not worth the time to make.

DVI/HDMI- Can not be a DIY cable, reason in they have very small conductors and quite a few of them, and have to be almost 100% the same. Not to mention all the solders are done with robotics.

I hope this helps you out. If you need any tips or pics send me a PM.

RH

SayNoToPistons · 12-05-2006, 10:23 PM

^ Wow, those are sexy looking cables.

pelayostyle · 12-07-2006, 03:36 AM

Recabled with 26awg SPC. These are used while i jog

Ace o' Spades · 12-07-2006, 03:53 AM

Nice job on that recable. I love the colors. How are the microphonics?

applebook · 12-07-2006, 04:27 AM

Here are my budget Eichman bullets RCA interconnects with Star Quad (1.5').

My question for you experts is if using a braided 4-conductor cable affects SQ. Pretty much all stereo RCA cables are separate.

The silly thing is that I won't need this cable much longer anyway since I'm going fully balanced --silver or copper XLR plugs are expensive $$$